Well, this took a lot longer than I thought, but I finally got it done. Not my best, to be honest, but I hope you like it.

Chapter 21

"Raise your tonfa in front of you, Neji!"

"I am!"

"Block!" TenTen swiped at Neji with her staff, and he caught it on his tonfa. She shifted her weight, and the tonfa fell to the ground. "You need a better block and grip on the thing, Neji."

"I'm doing the best I can," said Neji through clenched teeth, picking up the tonfa and shifting into battle position. "The tonfa is difficult to use." TenTen shook her head in exasperation, irking his temper. She tapped her staff to the ground, and Neji leaped back as she swung and stepped forward to deliver a blow to the jaw. TenTen saw it and dodged to the side.

"That's better, Neji. Attack when there's an opening, that's what you gotta remember."

"As you've told me exactly twenty-seven times already," he said, almost losing his grip on his tonfa as he blocked another swing. He had been training with her one week, and still his technique was pitiful and bettering at an even more pitiful rate. He was reluctant to learn, but TenTen was persistent in saying that the tonfa would soon become second-nature. He doubted it.

"I'm honored that you've kept count," TenTen said, feigning to the left, "but you gotta focus or I might just bruise you some more!" She attempted to strike at his knees, but Neji, mostly by luck, knocked it to the side and swung his tonfa downward on TenTen's head. She managed to grab it with her hand just in time, and they stood face-to-face. "Good job, Neji," she complimented.

"That is likely the last positive comment I'll hear today," said Neji.

"Probably." They separated, and Neji spun the tonfa distractedly. "Quit spinnin' them like that. Hold them at your sides. Spinning like that just makes your grip worse." Neji ceased, and he paused before charging at TenTen. "Goddammit! You're the most-," Neji kicked out at her, and TenTen leaped back and parried two rapid, upward blows from Neji. This left him open to a hit in the chest, and she unsealed her hammer to swing at him. Neji's eyes widened as the hammer made contact, but then he substituted with a log.

TenTen shook her head. "That's the third time you've done that, and the third time I've been able to land a hit on you like that." Neji appeared in front of her, tonfa raised for combat. "You're the most stubborn guy I know, Neji. Tonfa are, I repeat, not offensive weapons." She tapped the ground again and swung at Neji who blocked. One tonfa went flying from his hand, and Neji nervously spun the remaining one. "Quit spinnin' 'em!"

She swung again, and Neji's instincts took over. Time slowed, and he sidestepped and jabbed with two fingers at her shoulder. TenTen gasped as pain shot through her arm, and it dangled uselessly. Neji followed up with a tonfa blow toward her jaw, but he stopped it to just brush her. TenTen swore colorfully as she shook feeling back into her arm, and she glared at Neji. "Just what the hell was that, Neji?"

He shrugged. "Nothing. I acted naturally."

"Well, that hurt like hell and I can't effin' use my arm anymore!" She winced, and her fingers twitched. Slowly, her ability to move her arm returned. "There, that's better." She twirled her staff between her hands. "I swear...that move looked like Gentle Fist."

Neji snorted. "A style useless to me now."

"Yeah...maybe," said TenTen. She then grinned. "Find your missing tonfa and ready up!" Neji found his tonfa, and she charged without warning. Another furious, mostly desperate on Neji's part, exchange of blows ensued. TenTen swept at his feet and then jumped and slammed her staff on the ground where Neji would have been if he hadn't moved. He saw an opening, and he attempted a jab with the short end of the tonfa. She knocked it away. "That's better!"

Neji grunted and jumped back as TenTen swung. He retaliated with a few quick blows that TenTen ducked under. She caught his feet, and he fell to the ground roughly. She pointed the end of her staff at his chest, and it sparked threateningly. "Don't move."

"I was not planning to." She grinned and held out a hand, but Neji ignored it. TenTen withdrew her hand, hurt slightly, but then furrowed her brow as Neji sealed his tonfa in the scroll Guy had given him. "What're you doin'? Training isn't over yet."

"It is for me," stated Neji, walking away, "I have other matters to attend to."

"Hey, Guy-sensei isn't gonna-,"

"Sensei will understand. I explained it to him this morning." With that, he faded from her view. TenTen sighed. 'So stubborn and stuck-up...but very, very mysterious even though we've been teammates for nearly a year. What did he mean during the last mission, when he said his mother's funeral? His Kaa-san...died?'

Neji slid into the Main Family dojo where all Main and Side Family members were to meet and watch a spar between Hinata and Hanabi. He was one of the last to arrive, and so he sat against the rear wall. The Main Family had the best view at the front, and the Side members sat at the back. Neji drew up a knee and rested his elbow on it. Someone sat next to him, and Neji glanced out the corner of his eye.

"Hyoto-sensei," he said, the man nodding back in return, "It is good to see you."

"I return the politeness," said Hyoto flatly, "Are you free after this event?"

"Yes, I am, and I need to-,"

"Good. We will train afterward. Meet me at the well."

"But-," started Neji before the dojo door slid open to admit Hiashi, Hinata, and Hanabi. The patriarch's face was stern, and his daughters' were determined. The two combatants stood at each end of the sparring area, and Hiashi centered himself between them. The entire building was silent. No one dared to move.

Hiashi looked between them, and Hinata and Hanabi both took up Gentle Fist stances. "You ready, Nee-chan?" asked Hanabi, grinning energetically. Hinata nodded, a calm, small smile on her face. "It's not going to be easy!"

"I didn't think it would be, Imouto. Give it your all."

Hiashi hid a slight smile as he signal for them to start. "Begin!"

Hanabi rushed forward and activated her Byakugan with Hinata simultaneously. Neji felt a twinge of envy as they did so. Now the heiress he had deemed weak possessed something that he had lost. Hanabi let loose with a barrage of jabs that Hinata danced in between, her weight shifting seamlessly to match the rhythm. Hanabi tired, and Hinata took the opportunity to quickly pressed a few points on her chest. Hanabi winced, but then she immediately countered with another barrage.

Hinata began her dance again, but then Hanabi lashed out with a kick that connected. Hinata skidded back, and her smiled widened as she ran forward to meet her sister head-on. The older sister struck at Hanabi's shoulders and then spun to deliver a chop to her neck. Hanabi grimaced as the first hits landed, but she ducked under the chop. "You're doing good!" she laughed.

Hinata said nothing and dodged as Hanabi tried to sweep her feet from under her. She countered with a quick jab at Hanabi's leg. The younger gasped as her leg suddenly gave out, and Hinata took the advantage. She pressed tenketsu, or at least Neji guessed she did, all over Hanabi's body, and ended the assault with a final palm strike to the gut. Hanabi gasped and hunched over, but then she grinned up at Hinata. "That hurt, Nee-chan."

Hinata smiled back. "I was not planning to hold back either."

Hanabi giggled, and she ran at her sister. She cried out and spun to deliver a rapid storm of kicks and chops that Hinata moved in between. Watching her, Neji was impressed. 'She was in training for...six months? And she's already progressed to a level to match her sister who has been training for three years. Impressive.' He followed her movements. 'Graceful and restrained. Rarely attacking, mostly countering...It reminds me of the tonfa kata.'

Hanabi was panting, almost all of her energy spent, but Hinata's breathing was even. It didn't even look as if she was sweating. Hinata kept her smile. "Is this all, Imouto? I thought you were going to give your all." Hanabi grinned, and she took a deep breath.

"I am, but this is just the beginning! Take this!" She charged and rotated at the hips as she neared Hinata. Neji recognized the readying movements, and he narrowed his eyes. "Eight Trigrams: Thirty-Two Palms!" Hanabi began the blindingly-fast technique, but Hinata instantly stopped her by grabbing her hand and throwing her over the shoulder. Hanabi was winded, and Hinata placed two fingers at the base of her sister's throat.

"I win, Imouto." There was silence except for Hanabi's heavy breathing, and Hiashi slowly started to clap until the rest of the Hyuuga clan had joined. Neji refrained, and he was surprised when Hyoto joined as well. He looked at him questioningly, but the man didn't notice. Hinata held out a hand to her sister, and they embraced. The Side Family rose to their feet to applaud enthusiastically, but the Main Family remained seated. The elders in particular looked discontent.

The applause slowly died down, and the audience filed out, Neji lingering a few moments longer. He watched how the two sisters chatted happily. He shook his head slightly; he knew that their relationship would become strained yet again when the heiress was to be chosen. What happened then was beyond his control and frankly beyond his caring. He followed the rest of the clan, mostly elderly now, out the door.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Bunumi-san!" Neji turned his head to see Hinata helping an elderly woman with her bag of knickknacks that had spilled across the floor. The woman was from the Side Family by the headband. Hinata bent down to gather up the woman's things. "I'm so sorry, Bunumi-san. I didn't see-,"

"It's alright, Hinata-sama. You don't have to pick up my-,"

"No, no, it's okay. I'm younger than you, so-,"

"But-but y-you're-,"

"Here." Hinata gave the bag back to the woman, all her things in it. "It's not a problem." Neji looked at them, his eyes thoughtful. Not much separated these two except for age. The only stark difference was the hidden mark upon the woman's head, a mark that deemed her lesser to individuals who possessed no mark. Ironically, an old childhood story came to mind, set in time before his life was complicated with hatred.

Kinami smiled and closed the children's story book, and she bent down and kissed a young Neji's forehead, not yet branded with the mark. Hizashi's snore could be heard through the wall. Neji wrapped his blankets tightly around him and gazed at his mother with wide eyes. "So...they got along after all? Even after the Star-on and Star-off thingy?" Kinami nodded.

"They saw it didn't matter if they had the stars on their bellies. No one could remember who was who, so they all decided it was best if they were nice to one another."

"So...everyone is the same?"

She laughed and hugged him. "Yes, Neji-kun. Underneath everything, people are the same. They're human." Neji leaned into the hug, and Kinami tucked him into bed. "Goodnight, little one."

"Goodnight, Kaa-chan."

Neji sighed, and he headed out. The mark upon the Side Family's forehead was the same as the star upon the characters' stomachs in the story. There was no difference between the Families that allowed the Main Family to oppress, and no difference that prohibited the Side Family from standing tall. There was the curse mark, and that was all. Granted, the curse mark was painful and sometimes fatal to endure, but there was nothing at all. It was a childish difference, a squabble between youngsters.

He blinked, and he thoughtlessly touched his forehead. He had lost his mark that declared him less of a person. He could take off his headband and walk unchallenged through the Main Family complex, just as a result of his blank forehead. For him, there was no barrier, and he would use that advantage when he could. Hopefully, one day, he could grant the same freedom to other Side members.

His mind turned to Naruto. He had truly underestimated the true grit of the blonde. Naruto had bore the burden of being the jinchuriki of Kyuubi, a burden that earned him hostility. Naruto had never known why the villagers were suspicious or bitter, but he had struggled onward, ignoring the insidious whispers. Both of them had experienced pain, but Neji had had his mother to soothe him. Naruto had no one but himself. Naruto wasn't any less because of his own mark; it had in fact benefitted him. He really was the better man, even though Neji would never say so to his face.

Neji halted in his walking, realizing where he was. He was at the well, Hyoto leaning against it casually. Hyoto nodded at him and strode off, signaling for him to follow. Neji snorted in frustration, and he closely followed Hyoto. He was irritated because he couldn't sense when they entered the bubble, but suddenly Hyoto disappeared and reappeared in front of him.

"Neji-san," he said without preamble, "I have heard that you successfully used Sixty-Four Palms against an adversary. I congratulate you." His expression darkened. "I have also heard statements that all is not well with you." Neji nodded, and he began to untie his headband. "What are you doing?" He didn't answer until the headband fell free. It clattered to the ground, and Hyoto was stunned into speechlessness. "Wh-wha-what?"

Neji gazed at him evenly. "Yes, your eyes do not lie."

"The report d-didn't mention this-,"

"I'm not surprised. Guy and anyone present probably swore to keep its removal secret."

Hyoto came close to Neji, his eyes still reflecting disbelief. "But how? How did you erase the mark from your forehead? Only death offers escape."

"Exactly," said Neji, "I died."

Hyoto glanced at him sharply. "What?"

"I died and was resurrected."

"How?"

"I do not know, but I was killed during the misson by Sayuri Uchiha."

Hyoto jumped at the name, and his eyes widened. "Sayuri? You encountered Sayuri? The report I received is pitifully lacking information."

"You knew her?"

Hyoto shrugged. "I knew her in passing. I even had the chance to work alongside her. She was...interesting." He turned away. "But then that fateful mission happened...and she was sent to the Blood Prison." His voice was thoughtful. "It was unpleasant for myself, to say the least. She had sympathy from everyone, though. That was not in short supply."

"She was insane."

"As you knew her. After she escaped the Blood Prison, I tracked her down, and, yes, she was insane. She...hardly recognized me." His voice was soft. "It was rattling to see her reduced to a shell of her former self. I tried to help, but..." Neji narrowed his eyes.

"You knew her well, not just in passing."

Hyoto was silent. He turned back to Neji and nodded. "We were...close. She was kind and compassionate, differing from the cold nature of most Uchiha. She also possessed a certain steel that I admired, a certain steel that drew the ANBU's attention." He shook his head as he remembered. "I was content then. A kind, beautiful woman Sayuri was."

Neji raised an eyebrow. "Close? It would seem that either clan wouldn't approve-,"

"They did not, so I and Sayuri were discreet." He was silent again, but then he met Neji's eye. "I wish not to speak of this anymore. It brings back...bittersweet memories."

"But you knew the person who killed me-,"

"And she obviously failed." Flatness had come back into his voice, but then Hyoto blinked as something occurred to him. "Which is quite unlike her. What happened?"

"She was killed by Naruto Uzumaki."

"Uzumaki? How? He is not capable enough-,"

"He may not be, but his tenant certainly is."

Hyoto felt his stomach drop, but he carefully kept his face blank. "Tenant?" he asked blankly.

Neji's eyes narrowed. "Do not play ignorant. It doesn't suit you. I know Naruto Uzumaki is the 'jinchuriki' of the Kyuubi though fortunately he does not know himself. The reason I know is because Uzumaki awakened his beast during his and Sayuri's fight."

Hyoto pressed his hands to his eyes. "The report is now deemed useless. What else do I not know?"

"I have lost my Byakugan."

The man threw up his arms in an exasperated gesture. "Alas, the report is correct!" He shook his head. "So you have. I would assume that you lost it due to the removal of the curse mark?"

"I would think so."

Hyoto tapped his chin with a finger. "So some of your most powerful techniques are next to useless to you...but there may be some hope."

Neji furrowed his brow. "Hm? Hope how?"

"You do not necessarily need the vision of the Byakugan to effectively use Gentle Fist. Just a general location of nerves or bunches of tenketsu."

Neji's mind went back to his training with TenTen. "As in I hit in the nerves controlling arm movements."

"Exactly."

He smiled. "Sensei, I know what you're meaning. I did it today while practicing with the tonfa that Guy-sensei-,"

"Tonfa?"

"A close-range weapon that the basic principle is to-,"

"I know what it is, Neji-san. I was merely surprised. I have not seen a tonfa wielder in a long while. Perhaps you will become proficient with it in time." Hyoto shifted into Gentle Fist, puzzling Neji. "But my objective, now that it has changed, is to keep sharp your skills in Gentle Fist. Are you ready, Neji-san?"

"I don't-,"

"Begin!"

After two grueling hours of Neji primarily dodging Hyoto's attacks and retaliating-which he found ironic in the extreme-Hyoto finally signaled for the practice to end. Neji stumbled backward against a wall, clutching his knees and panting. Hyoto wiped a faint sheen of sweat from his forehead. "That was adequate, Neji-san, given your state of being. That will be all for today."

He went to tear the obscuring tag from the ground, but then Neji said, "Sensei, I have a question."

"Yes?"

"How much do you of the events surrounding my father's death?"

Hyoto looked strangely at him. "May I inquire why you ask?"

"During my death, I was told something very...odd." Neji told him about the vision, or whatever it was, about Kinami's illness, about Hizashi's choice. When he finished, Hyoto was quiet. Neji watched him curiously. "I know it is difficult to believe-,"

"Not difficult," he cut in, "Impossible. I think that you wished to see a sort of heroic confession from your father and an melancholic but apprehensible explanation from your mother, and that wish materialized into-," Neji strode over to Hyoto and pushed something into his hand, meeting his eye evenly. Hyoto frowned down at it. It was a note, written in a familiar hand. An eyebrow rose to the highest point it could go as he read it. He looked back at Neji. "This is a note that you received as she died. I can believe her cause of death now as I suspected as much. She never told me what ailed her. But as for your father-,"

Neji pressed another note into his hand, and Hyoto read it but was caught off-guard when it cut off with a streak of ink that went off the paper. He blinked. "What is this? The beginning to an identical farewell note? Why?"

Neji shook his head. "One I received at Kaa-san's death, but the other I found in my pocket after the vision. The first I handed to you is the latter." He tapped the notes. "Look at the writing. Exactly the same except the actual death note's shakiness. You can't deny it was written by a person whose death preceded it."

Hyoto sighed. "Neji-san, this is ridiculous. There is no conceivable method to prove the validity of your claim-," Neji turned over the first note he'd handed over.

"Then disprove that." The man turned ashen as he saw the hauntingly familiar writing. "You know who wrote that, don't you? Does that finally cement your belief in my story?" Hyoto didn't answer, but his eyes were answer enough. Neji took back both notes, and Hyoto stared at him in disbelief.

"I admit that I did not know details of your father's death, only that the Main Family chose him to die in Hiashi-sama's place, but to think Hizashi went willingly..." He suddenly grinned and gave a chuckle. "It sounds most like him if I think about it. Rebellious to the end." He took on a sad expression. "Pity it was a short end."

"So you cannot confirm it?"

"Do you yourself not believe it?"

Neji shrugged. "You said it yourself: it is impossible to believe."

Hyoto raised a brow. "Then act as if you believe when you do not?"

"Because I-I..."

Hyoto smiled. "As I said before: you want to believe."

"Yes, desperately."

"Then I am not the one to talk to. There is only one person who can confirm your vision."

"Hokage-sama?"

"Yes, him as well, but I was picturing someone...closer."

Neji scowled. "Hiashi-sama."

Hyoto nodded. "Indeed."

"But I don't want-,"

"Wants are unimportant. Needs are not."

"Hiashi-sama will not grant a Side member an audience quickly."

"For his brother's son, someone he indebted to, he just might."

Neji shook his head. "Not today. Probably never. I am...wary of Hiashi-sama."

Hyoto tore away the obscuring tag, saying, "I understand your feelings, but," he clapped Neji on the shoulder, "Hiashi is the only person who can truly lay to rest your uneasiness." He left, and Neji gazed after him solemnly.

Naruto gasped as he struggled to recover his breath. He had just finished training with Guy and Lee, and he sat under a shady tree even though the evening heat was cooling. Touza rocked restlessly next to him, though the boy would send him odd looks while Naruto wasn't looking. Naruto shook his head, sweat flinging around and on Touza. The boy waved his hands at Naruto. "Ack! Quit shakin' your head, Naruto-san! You're getting me wet."

The blonde grinned sheepishly. "Sorry about that, Touza. Did you miss me over the past few days?"

The boy cocked his head to the side, face scrunched up in thought. "Eh, a little bit. I had no one to scare. Kitame-sensei is scary whenever I get him."

The name sparked a question. "Oh, about Kitame, what happened to the class? It was bigger before."

Touza shrugged. "I know one day we got a test and went outside for fightin'. Day after that a lot of the class was gone. He called it..." His face scrunched up in thought again, "'weeding out the weak'? I don't know. But we've learned cool jutsu!"

"Like what?"

Touza grinned and leaped up. He made a single handsign. "Clone Jutsu!" A clone of himself appeared next to him, and Touza moved to give it a high-five. He fell as his hand went through the clone, and Naruto smiled as the boy pouted, his face dusty. "I keep forgetting they're not real, but then yours are! How do you do that?"

Naruto winked cheekily. "It's a secret."

"Aw! C'mon!" The blonde shook his head with a grin, and Touza pestered him until Naruto suddenly shunshinned away. "No fair!" Naruto appeared sitting in the tree that he had sat under. Touza glared harmlessly up at him. "No fair! I can't do that!"

Naruto shrugged. "So?"

Touza glowered, but then he mysteriously cheered up. "Betcha can't do this!"

Naruto rolled his eyes and hung upside down from a branch, jacket just clinging to him. "Like what?" Touza smirked, and Naruto closed his eyes to yawn. When he opened them, Touza was gone. "Eh? What the hell? Touza, where'd you go?" Nothing except for the grunts of exertion from Guy and Lee out in the clearing. Naruto dropped down and glanced around. "Hey, this isn't-,"

"BOO!"

Naruto jumped. "Son of a-!" He whipped around to see Touza dangling as he had, upside down and wide grin on his face. "Quit that!"

"Betcha can't do that!"

"Bet I can!"

"Betcha can't!" Touza dropped down, and Naruto looked irritated for a second before he shook his head with a smile.

"Nah, you're right, Touza, but I'm still older than you."

"What's that gotta do with anything?"

The blonde poked his tongue out. "Absolutely nothing! Race ya to downtown!" He vanished, and Touza protested as he chased after him. Naruto finally stopped by a small pastry shop, and he watched as Touza slowly caught up. He stumbled to a halt hunched over, winded. "C'mon, it wasn't that far of a run," teased Naruto.

"Maybe not...for you, Naruto-san," he said in between breaths, "but I can't run...like you can." He stood up and glared. "That was mean, you meanie." Naruto grinned, and he turned as a bell chimed and the shop's door opened. Hinata and a little girl about a year younger than Touza walked out, both of them laughing. Hinata caught sight of Naruto, and she waved. He waved back, and he and Touza walked over.

Touza was the first to say something. "Hey, you're the girl who used to follow Naruto-san! Hello, pretty girl!" He smiled toothily at Hinata who blushed brightly. He looked at Hanabi. "Who're you?"

Hanabi puffed out her chest. "I'm Hanabi, rival heiress of the Hyuuga clan! Be respectful!"

"Uh-huh," said Touza, unimpressed, "You're kinda short for someone important."

Hanabi pointed at him angrily. "I'm not short! And we're the same height!"

"You're still short to me."

"I'm not-!"

Touza took off suddenly, chanting "Shorty! Hanabi the Shorty!" Hanabi growled and took off after him. Hinata looked after them concernedly.

"I hope they'll be alright," she said.

"They will," assured Naruto, "Hanabi looks like she can handle herself, and Touza's a lot tougher than he looks. When he lets Hanabi catch him, he can take whatever happens." His phrasing drew a inquiring look from Hinata. "No one can catch the little rascal unless he wants you to."

"Is he fast?"

"No, just sneaky. It's like he can turn invisible." He gestured in front of him. "Care to walk together?" She nodded and smiled, face turning pink. They walked side by side, Naruto keeping up most conversation. "So how's your training going?"

"Well. My father has been showing me how to use some of the more advanced techniques. Hanabi and I are basically competing for the title of heiress...which will be passed on to one of us when I turn sixteen." She sighed. "I'm worried."

"About your sister?"

Hinata nodded. "She and Father are all I have left. Even though the selection is four years off..."

"You're still worried, but you have a right to be. Hanabi's the one you feel responsible for, right?" Hinata nodded. "So if you could do anything to stop her branding-," She looked at him oddly, "-you'd do it, right?"

"Y-yes, I would. How do you know about the branding?"

"Neji-teme's my teammate, remember?"

"Oh."

"So you'd do anything for your little sister?" They can to a T in the street, and Touza ran by laughing madly with a furious Hanabi in pursuit. Hinata watched them softly, and Naruto hid a smile behind a hand. Touza turned a corner, and Hanabi tried to follow but stopped. She looked around, and then Touza leaped over a fence behind her and took off back toward Naruto. She whipped around and gave chase. Touza waved at Naruto as he passed, and they disappeared the way they came. "See? She can't catch him."

Hinata giggled, but then her expression grew serious. "Yes, I'd do anything for her. Even taking the brand for myself. She doesn't deserve that." They turned toward the direction Touza and Hanabi had run.

"Do you deserve it, though?"

"No one deserves to have that t-terrible brand, but a big sister always protects the little sister. No matter what." Naruto smiled proudly and nodded. "But I will find a way to beat that curse mark. Count on it. I won't give up, because that's-,"

"-my nindo, my ninja way!" finished Naruto, throwing an arm around Hinata and hugging her. "That's the confidence I like to see." They reached a bench and sat. "Whatever happened to that shrinking violet in the Academy?"

Hinata threw her head back and looked playfully at Naruto. A faint blush was evident, however. "She grew a backbone and decided that no one would ever again stand in her way. Just a like a certain someone." He smiled slid an arm around her. "Though she couldn't have done it without a little pep talk also from that certain someone,." They laughed, and they heard someone behind them laugh along. The pair turned around and saw Ayame and Iruka walking up to them. Both of them were dressed leisurely. "Oh! Hello, Iruka-sensei."

"Hi, you lovebirds," he said, causing Hinata's blush to darken. A sheepish smile spread across Naruto's face, but he didn't move his arm. He instead caught sight of Iruka and Ayame's interlaced hands.

"You're calling us lovebirds, lovebirds?" countered Naruto. It was Iruka's turn to smile sheepishly, and Ayame bumped into him affectionately. "How'd this happen? Wait, that's a stupid question. Why didn't this happen sooner?"

"Iruka here was scared of my dad," said Ayame, "He didn't ask me until a few days ago...but I had already told Dad that I was thinking about it."

Iruka scratched his nose. "Uh-huh. Would you have asked me if I hadn't?"

Ayame smiled. "Of course. A woman has a right to make a move on a man, right?"

"Well, yeah-,"

"So why'd you worry?"

"Teuchi-san-,"

"No, it's just Teuchi now."

"Teuchi terrified me. I didn't know how he'd react to a ninja dating his daughter..." Ayame giggled and shook her head. "What's so funny?"

"You're supposed to be a fearless defender of the village, but you're scared of Dad?"

"Hey, that's not fair-,"

Naruto snorted loudly. "Great. The young couple's playful arguing, the first step into the old people's constant bickering." They laughed, and Iruka invited Naruto and Hinata to walk with them. Naruto held out a hand to Hinata, and as she stood, Touza and another boy with a long scarf blew by. "Touza! What are you-,"

"Can't talk! Being chased by Hanabi the Shorty!"

"Stop it!" Hanabi ran by, her tone angry but a wide smile on her face. "You better not stop or I'll get you!" The trio turned the next corner.

"They're having fun," observed Naruto.

Hinata nodded. "That's good. Hanabi isn't usually around people her age. She kind of forgets how to be a kid sometimes." The four of them walked into the busier parts of the village, and the merchants shouted about their merchandise, trying to get their attention. Naruto sent a rather loud one a scowl, and he quieted. One merchant pulled Iruka and Ayame to the side, and Hinata wandered over to a cart loaded with shiny baubles.

Naruto stood by her, and the merchant happily told them about his wares, "Look at this bracelet, young lady! Look at the sheen! It's priceless, made by the famous metalsmiths of the Land of Iron-," Hinata picked up the bracelet the merchant pointed out. It did possess a sheen as the merchant described, but a small, almost indiscernible shape of a lily was etched onto the metal. She traced it musingly, and Naruto smiled slightly.

He leaned against the cart casually. "How much for the bracelet?"

"Five hundred ten ryo!"

"Five hundred?"

"Five hundred and five?"

"Four hundred?"

"Ah, you're a very clever boy, mister." Naruto haggled with him for ten minutes, eventually settling on a price of four hundred twenty-five ryo. Both were happy with that, and Hinata cheerfully slipped on the bracelet. Iruka and Ayame came back, he toting a large bag in front of him. The blonde raised an eyebrow.

"What in the world is in that bag?"

"Just a few things Iruka bought me," chirped Ayame.

Iruka muttered something behind the bag, and he set it down. "Did you really have to buy that pottery jar? It cost a thousand ryo! And I don't get paid much!"

Ayame shrugged. "Well, it looked pretty-,"

"That's it?"

She shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah."

He dragged the bag back toward the merchant that had sold it. "Then I'm getting my money back."

"You're supposed to be a gentleman!"

"I have my limits!"

Naruto chuckled, and Hinata watched them argue anxiously. "I hope they won't do anything rash."

"Nah, they've argued like this over ramen. She probably just bought it to bother Iruka-sensei. He'll get his money back and they'll just laugh it off." His stomach growled, and he patted it self-consciously. "Well, that's a message that Ichiraku is in high demand."

"Ichiraku?"

"You don't what Ichiraku is?" Hinata shook her head. "Man, are you in for a treat! C'mon, Hinata-hime!" He took Hinata's hand, and they hurried down several streets until they came to the small ramen shop. Naruto parted the flaps for Hinata and followed her in. "Teuchi! Your favorite customer's here! And he's got a friend!"

Hinata glanced back at him. "Are you sure 'friend' covers it?"

He grinned. "No, but I don't want to use 'girlfriend'. Too soon."

"Definitely. Close friend, then."

"Very close." Teuchi came out of the back and smiled welcomingly.

"A friend, huh? Who-oh! Hinata-sama, how do you do?" He bowed in the cramped space between the counter and the wall, and Hinata bowed back.

"It's just Hinata, Teuchi-san, but thank you."

"But you're the heiress of the Hyuuga-,"

"And you're my elder by thirty years. I need to respect you." Teuchi blinked but then brightened.

"So what would you like to eat, Hinata?"

"Um, what would you suggest, Teuchi-san?"

"Just Teuchi is fine, and the pork broth ramen is fresh and tasty. Would you like some?"

"Sure." The two sat down, Naruto not saying a word. Hinata looked at him oddly. "Aren't you hungry?"

"Yeah, but I always get the same thing." Teuchi returned with two steaming bowls and slid them in front of Naruto and Hinata. "Miso, my favorite!" He dove in, and Hinata took an experimental taste of hers. It was delicious, and she hungrily slurped it up. As they ate, Iruka and Ayame stepped in without the large bow in tow. In between a bite, Naruto waved. He said with a full mouth, "Hewwo, Iwuka-sensei!"

Iruka smirked. "Such a well-mannered gentlemen, aren't we?"

"Sut up."

Ayame laughed, and they sat, Teuchi hugging Ayame before taking their orders. Naruto finished his meal and leaned back, satisfied. Hinata finished not long after and examined the bracelet. She asked without looking up, "Iruka-sensei, what happened to that bag?"

"Eh? Oh, I returned that thing. Can't even remember what it was."

Ayame grinned. "It was funny to see your reaction when you bought it and then sold it." She paused. "And now I can't remember what it was."

"You see?" pointed Iruka, "Can't even remember what it was and yet it cost a thousand ryo!"

"I only said I wanted it to play with you," said Ayame.

"Yeah, well...well, I would've done the same thing." She smiled and bumped into him. "Yeah, yeah, don't push it, Ayame-chan."

"Nicknames now, huh? What next, marriage?" asked Naruto. This earned a sharp nudge from Hinata. "What, Hinata?"

"I thought it was Hinata-hime, Naruto-kun." Naruto glowered at her with a flushed face as they all laughed.

"That's not fair," he muttered, "Four against one."

Teuchi slid Iruka and Ayame's meals in front of them. He said, "I'm not in this, so it's three against one."

"Still unfair."

Hinata smiled and took his hand. "Cheer up. I can make it even." He smiled back, and the rest of them went 'aw'. Naruto started to say something, but at that moment, Touza, Hanabi, and the boy with the long scarf rushed in, breathing hard. Scratches and scruff marks covered the two boys, and Hanabi bore red marks on her arms. Hinata went to her sister. "What happened?" she asked.

"We were...taken by surprise," panted Hanabi, "Touza and Konohamaru got me out of trouble, though." Touza and the other boy, Konohamaru, looked up at their names and gave grins, a hole visible in Konohamaru's. "That was...fun, though." Hanabi rubbed the marks. "Kind of hurt."

"Could you tell us what happened?" asked Iruka.

Touza protested, "Do we gotta? I'm hungry!"

"I am too!" chimed in Konohamaru. Their stomachs growled in unison. "See!"

Naruto chuckled. "Alright, I'll pay for it. I can already feel my wallet getting lighter."

"Yay!"

"This is the last time, Touza!"

"That's what you said last time, Naruto-san!"

OK, that's that. Anyway, time for a deleted scene/omake/whatever you want to call it. It's not important, but it's cool to read, hopefully.

Deleted Scene: The Chase and The Scuffle

Touza took off, chanting, "Hanabi the Shorty!" Hanabi growled and took off after him. They reached a T in the road and Touza turned right with Hanabi right behind him. "Shorty! Too short to be important!"

"Shut up!"

"Make me!" He turned right again and dodged through a crowd. Hanabi pushed and shoved her way through, shouting at him all the while. "What was that, Hanabi the Shorty?"

"I'm going to get you!"

"Gotta catch me first, mizette!" She roared at the name, and Touza laughed wildly and took another right. He saw the back of Naruto and ran past him, turning the corner again but this time fading out of view. Hanabi skidded to a stop at the T and looked around wildly as he silently scaled the fence and came back into view in someone's backyard. He climbed the fence behind Hanabi and jumped to the ground. He ran back toward Naruto and heard Hanabi taking off after him.

They turned left, and Hanabi yelled after him, "When I catch you, you're dead!"

"Bet I'm not!"

"Bet you will, scaredy-cat!"

"At least I'm taller than you, Shorty!" She growled as Touza laughed and took another left. He was near the Academy now, and he glimpsed a long, green scarf paired with a ponytail sticking up from a helmet. He ran in that direction and finally saw the scarf's owner. "Konohamaru! Being chased! Wanna join?"

Konohamaru, practicing his shuriken throwing on a wall, perked up. "Chased? By who?" Hanabi rounded the corner. "Oh! Sure, count me in!" He fell into stride beside Touza. "What do I say?"

"Call her short!"

"Hey, short stuff!" shouted Konohamaru back at Hanabi, "Betcha you can't run fast on those tiny legs!"

"Shut up, helmethead!"

Konohamaru winced and said to Touza, "She's a mean one." Touza laughed and pulled him farther ahead. "Hey, wait!" Touza dragged Konohamaru around the corner and ran past Naruto, Hinata, Iruka, and the pretty lady from the ramen shop.

"Touza, what are you-," started Naruto

"Can't talk! Being chased by Hanabi the Shorty!"

Behind him, Hanabi shouted, "Stop it! You better not stop or I'll get you!"

The two boys rounded the next corner, laughing, and they made another turn, and another, and another, and another until they had lost Hanabi. The boys fell forward, breathless, and Konohamaru grinned at Touza. "That was fun. Now she's gotta catch up," he managed.

Touza nodded, too out of breath to answer, and they waited for Hanabi. The wait turned to a few minutes, and Konohamaru shifted uncomfortably. "Hey, think we should go find her?"

"Nah. She's fine, I bet."

"How do you know?"

"I've seen her fight," answered Touza, "Her house is big. Very big. And today her and her sister got into a fight. That was cool." He smiled brightly at his friend who shot an odd look at him.

"OK, I guess..." The wait turned to ten minutes, and Konohamaru was convinced something had happened. "C'mon, she got lost."

"No, kinda hard to get lost with X-ray vision."

"Huh?"

"Byakugan-thingy. We just learned about it yesterday, Konohamaru!"

"Oh. How do you know-,"

"Her eyes are white."

"OK, so she's tough, but still-," A high-pitched, angry yell tore at their ears, and Touza was off like a deer toward the sound, leaving Konohamaru frozen. He blinked, processing what just happened, and was right behind him. "Wait up!"

Touza rounded the corners of the streets he knew like the back of his hand. He knew exactly where that yell had come from, and he hoped that Hanabi could hold out until he got there. Not that he doubted her or anything. He was just cannon fodder to distract while she could do whatever she needed to do. He could hear Konohamaru stomping loudly behind him, a contrast to Touza's silent sprint.

They rounded a corner and saw Hanabi backed into a wall, surrounded by three teens. They were laughing, and Touza watched as one grabbed her and threw her into the opposite wall. She gasped as she slammed into it, and she slowly got up. She roared and ran at the teens, Byakugan activated, but one with a pig-like nose kicked her in the gut. "Little kid Hyuuga, we got here, eh? Think you can push us outta the way 'cause you're so high and mighty?"

"Shut up," she said weakly.

"Nope, can't do that." He picked her up by the arms, but she immediately jabbed his elbow and fell to the ground. "Ow, you little bitch! You're gonna-,"

"I'm not going to do anything, you bacon-nosed fatso!"

"You're really pushing it-,"

Touza, holding back a livid Konohamaru, decided to temporarily knock him out. Konohamaru fell to the ground with a loud thud, causing the teens to whip around. Touza backed away from his friend, his form fading from view. The teens peeked around corner and saw Konohamaru, and the pig-nosed one laughed. "The hell is this? An outcold kid? What did he-,"

Touza ran and jumped, spinning a leg around to smash into the teen's face. At the moment of contact, he reappeared, startling the other two. Seeing the other fall, they tried to leap at Touza who winked out of view. The teens looked around confusedly. "Where'd he go? I dunno, where did he go?" Unseen, Touza gripped Konohamaru by the shoulders and dragged him away from the boys. To the teens, it seemed as if Konohamaru was moving by himself. "What the effin' hell?"

Touza whispered to his friend and patted him on the cheek, "Hey, Konohamaru, wake up. Wake up. C'mon, I know you're awake." Konohamaru snorted and blearily blinked his eyes. He glanced around bewilderedly before he registered the teens. He leaped up in anger and shook a fist at them.

"Hey, you! What do you-!" Hanabi, forgetten by the teens, took advantage of the diversion and slammed a palm into on of the teen's side while Touza winked back into view to jump on the other's back. The teen fell back, and Hanabi struck him in the chest, knocking him unconscious. Konohamaru stood utterly flabbergasted by the sudden turn of events as his friends high-fived each other. He stammered out, "Wha-wha-what just-,"

"We got 'em, Konohamaru! Got 'em good, too!" said Touza, giving him a thumbs-up.

"But I didn't do anything!"

"You were the distraction," stated Hanabi plainly.

"WHAT!?"

"Hey, quiet, Konohamaru!"

"But I didn't agree to be a distraction!"

Touza smiled apologetically at him. "Well, I didn't agree to kick this guy in the face." He nudged the pig-nosed one with his foot.

"And I didn't agree to be cornered by these guys," said Hanabi, "I guess I should say 'thank you', but it hurts me to do that."

Touza grinned at her. "But you just said 'thank you', so I'll take it, Hanabi the Shorty!" He took off along with Konohamaru who apparently had forgotten his disagreement.

Hanabi stood still for a moment, a smile on her face, before she was in pursuit of them. "I'll make you pay for that, Touza and helmethead!"

Toodles!